mercy seat = propitiatory cover (Hebrew. kapporeth = cover). By Figure of speech Metonymy ( App-6 ) cover put for the propitiation made through the blood sprinkled thereon. It therefore denotes propitiation. Compare Hebrews 9:5 . Hence the meaning, God's "propitiatory gift", as in Papyri. Compare Romans 3:25 . pure gold . Not overlaid, because propitiation is a Divine work throughout. read more
cherubims . Plural of Hebrew cherub. Figure of speech Metonymy here put for representation of the celestial beings, of which we know nothing. They are a reality, there, and representative of creation, symbolical of blessing for all creation. These (in Exodus 25:18 ) were not the cherubims themselves, but representations of them. See Genesis 3:24 , but no "sword", because of the blood of propitiation. Occurs seven times in verses: Exodus 25:17-22 . read more
even of = out of. ye . Some codices, Hillel, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "thou". read more
THE MERCY-SEAT"And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: of one piece with the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the... read more
Exodus 25:10-17. They shall make an ark of shittim-wood— The furniture of the most sacred part of the tabernacle, the Holy of holies, the immediate residence of the Divinity, is first appointed. Of this, the ark or chest was the principal; which, made of shittim-wood, Exo 25:5 was about four feet five inches in length, and two feet six inches in height and breadth, overlaid with pure gold within and without; with a crown or circular rim of gold round about it, Exo 25:11 and was to have two... read more
Exodus 25:18. Thou shalt make two cherubims of gold— These cherubims were to be made of gold, of the matter of the mercy-seat, Exodus 25:19. (margin of our Bibles) which seems to specify only that they were to be made of gold, i.e. the matter of the mercy-seat; and not, as some have supposed, of the same piece gold with the mercy-seat. With respect to these cherubical figures, thus much is certain, that they were two, that they were winged, that they had faces; that these faces, opposite to... read more
17. thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold—to serve as a lid, covering it exactly. It was "the propitiatory cover," as the term may be rendered, denoting that Christ, our great propitiation [1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10], has fully answered all the demands of the law, covers our transgressions, and comes between us and the curse of a violated law. read more
18. two cherubim—The real meaning of these figures, as well as the shape or form of them, is not known with certainty—probably similar to what was afterwards introduced into the temple, and described in :-. They stretched out their wings, and their faces were turned towards the mercy seat [ :-], probably in a bowing attitude. The prevailing opinion now is, that those splendid figures were symbolical not of angelic but of earthly and human beings—the members of the Church of God interested in... read more
The ark of the covenant 25:10-22The ark was the throne of Yahweh where He dwelt in a localized way and met with the Israelites through their high priest. It was the seat of His sovereignty but also the place where He met with His people (Exodus 25:22). This is why directions for its construction come first. The testimony (Ten Commandments, Exodus 25:16; Exodus 25:22) lay inside the ark, which was a hollow box. God’s dwelling among His people and His relationship with them thus quite literally... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:10-22
Ark of the covenant (25:10-22)The ark (GNB: covenant box) was a gold covered wooden box, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. (A cubit was about forty-four centimetres or eighteen inches.) It was the only piece of furniture in the Most Holy Place (see 26:34). Inside the ark were the two stone tablets on which the law was written, as a constant reminder to the people of Israel that the God who dwelt among them was also their law-giver (10-16;... read more